First Regional Library (People in the News)

Lewonda Gipsonjoined First Regional Library in June as Collection Development Manager. In this capacity, she leads the team responsible for interlibrary loan, cataloging, Books-by-Mail, and many other services for the library system. Lewonda comes to FRL with many years of experience in team management, sales, and employment coordination.

Hanna Leebegan her role as First Regional Library’s Youth Services Coordinator in May. She was formerly the Branch Librarian at FRL's Batesville branch and had a busy summer working with FRL branches to coordinate the Summer Reading Program. Hanna brings an exciting vision for serving young people with her to this new role.

Ally Watkinsis the new Youth Services Librarian at the Lafayette County & Oxford branch of First Regional Library. In her varied library career, Ally has been an early literacy coordinator, a youth services supervisor, and most recently, a consultant with the Mississippi Library Commission, helping libraries around the state with youth services.

Emily Burtonbecame the Branch Librarian of First Regional Library's Batesville branch in August. Prior to joining FRL, Emily worked at public libraries in Virginia, Alaska, Colorado, and most recently Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers, IN. She received her MLIS from Wayne University in Detroit.

MLA's mission is to provide professional leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.